Taxpayers to Protect the Rouge

We ask the Council of the Village of Beverly Hills to enforce the Village’s ordinances and deny Detroit Country Day School’s special land use request to build a baseball field in a forested area on the Rouge River. We make this request based on the following facts:

1. To do this, Detroit Country Day School, who pays no property taxes to the Village, will be leveling over 360 mature trees. Because the Rouge is in a valley, the school will also be digging down 30 feet to level the ravine, requiring large retaining walls. The planned installation of access paths, a bridge, dugouts, bleachers, space for team seating, as well as the need to clear areas for viewing on the two straight sides of the diamond, will require Detroit Country Day School to clear a vast area that would cover approximately four or more acres.

2. The effect of the ball field plan on the environment and on the wildlife that inhabit the forested areas can only be described as devastating. This area is one of the few remaining sanctuaries in the Village for wildlife of all types. Should this plan go forward, wildlife will lose their feeding grounds and be forced to scavenge the yards in the surrounding neighborhoods.

3. Because the area is part of the flood plain, a plan of this magnitude will dramatically affect the flow of the river, worsening conditions downstream. Neighbors on the river, who are already battling the effects of erosion and periodic flooding, will have increased risk to their property. The eyesores (scoreboard, trash receptacles, retaining walls), deforestation and potential for severe flooding will damage property values for the homeowners along the river, and necessarily, for everyone else in the surrounding neighborhoods.

4. The Village is asking for a millage increase. We say to the Village Council: enforce the Village’s ordinances. Reject Country Day’s request for approval of this environmentally irresponsible project that will harm the Village and its neighboring communities on the Rouge River.

I am signing below because I care about the environment and the public welfare, including the Village’s property values.